Sarah Chayes says the Taliban have scored a major victory near Kandahar

However, no matter what the outcome in Arghandab, the Taliban have scored a major victory, said Sarah Chayes, an American writer and humanitarian who has a home in Kandahar. "What I think is key to note is the symbolic, emotional weight of the Taliban being in Arghandab," Chayes said. "Even if the government and ISAF drive them back out in short order, which looks like it's going to happen, they have scored major (psychological operations) points." The significance of Arghandab district is difficult to overstate, she said. "It's like a bulwark of the city. It's where the mujahedeen were based when they were fighting the Soviets, and no one could dislodge them from there," Chayes said. "This whole thing has cast a terrible pall on everyone's mood. Everyone in Arghandab now has to doubt his own neighbor. (It's) a district that used to be a carefree garden." Morocco RPCV Sarah Chayes has made a home in Kandahar, Afghanistan, became fluent in Pashto, one of the main Afghan languages, and devoted her energies to rebuilding a country gutted by two decades of war.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- The Taliban are on the run north of Kandahar after a joint counter-attack by Afghan and NATO forces, Canadian officials say.

Following three days of major fighting, a group of insurgents, numbering 200 to 300 have been killed, injured, arrested or are on their way back to districts further north.

The lightning-quick battle took place in the Arghandab district, just 12 kilometres north of Kandahar city.

The area is usually a quiet buffer for the main southern city -- protecting it from more volatile northern districts of the province.

"The Afghan National Security Forces and the coalition forces are pushing back the insurgents," said Maj. Eric Landry, chief planning officer for Canada's Joint Task Force Afghanistan. "We are very effective against the insurgents and we have the support of the local population which is very important because they have been giving us information about the insurgents' activities."

Earlier this week, the Taliban attacked three district centres in Arghandab. Landry said this offensive from the Taliban was particularly organized, and they synchronized their attacks.

But Afghan and mostly Canadian troops from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) struck back, killing at least 50 rebels, according to Afghan police.

Three Afghan police officers and one Afghan soldier died in the fighting.

"They are trying to leave pockets of resistance," Landry said. "They are being very ineffective and we are pushing them out of the Arghandab district."

The battle has also forced about 400 families from their homes in Arghandab into Kandahar city, said a local official with close ties to police who wished to be unnamed. Most have been able to lodge with family members, he said.

Thursday the regular shura, or tribal council, still went ahead in Arghandab.

"We are proud and grateful for what you have done. Thank you for everything," said Afghan Gov. Asadullah Khalid, who toured through the district. He added that of the dozens of Taliban killed, two were commanders.

Until recently, Arghandab district had been relatively peaceful. But two weeks ago, Mullah Naqib, the pro-government and pro-ISAF tribal leader in Arghandab district, died of a heart attack.

The powerful mullah's son, who holds similar views, has taken his place.

However, no matter what the outcome in Arghandab, the Taliban have scored a major victory, said Sarah Chayes, an American writer and humanitarian who has a home in Kandahar.

"What I think is key to note is the symbolic, emotional weight of the Taliban being in Arghandab," Chayes said. "Even if the government and ISAF drive them back out in short order, which looks like it's going to happen, they have scored major (psychological operations) points."

The significance of Arghandab district is difficult to overstate, she said.

"It's like a bulwark of the city. It's where the mujahedeen were based when they were fighting the Soviets, and no one could dislodge them from there," Chayes said. "This whole thing has cast a terrible pall on everyone's mood. Everyone in Arghandab now has to doubt his own neighbor. (It's) a district that used to be a carefree garden."

Also Thursday, the U.S. military said Afghan forces backed by U.S.-led coalition troops killed two children as they battled with a militant holed up in a compound in the east of the country. Afghan security forces backed by a small team of coalition troops raided the compound in the Bati Kot district of Nangarhar province after intelligence that a militant was present.

kcrydermantheherald.canwest.com/with files from Global National and Reuters.

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Story Source: CanWest News Service

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